Lubricator for steam-engines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

( No Model.)

0. VBRNIAUD.

LUBRIGATOR EUR STEAM ENGINES.

Patented Nov. 12,1889..

vm @Y 12%@ N. vPETERS. Phamlmgnpher. wullngim llc (No Model.) 2sheets-sheen 2,

GVERNIAUD. LUBEIGATOE EUR STEAM ENGINES.

No. 414,785. Patented Nav. 12,1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cLAuDIus vnnNIAUD,

or QUINcY, I LLINoIs.

LUBRICATOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,785, dated November12, 1889.

Application filed July 13, 1889. Serial No. 317,407l (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDIUs VERNIAUD, a citizen of the United States,residing atQ uincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators forSteam-Engines,

' dsc.; and'I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in lubricators forsteam-engines of that class wherein the oil is discharged by hydrostaticpressure excited by a column of water. Heretofore, so far as I am aware,in oil-ejectors of that class acting to fioat the oil through a columnof water, the drop of oil as it forms at the point of the nozzle of theejector is retarded and enlarged, owing to the low temperaturedistributed from the body of the apparatus. At times -undercircumstances of heavy feed the water is forced from the gageglass andthe oil accumulated therein, obscuring the glass and preventingobservation of the amount of oil being fed. This discharge of water andobservation of the glass render it necessary to refill and clean theglass, which manipulation sometimes breaks the glass, especially whenthe steanrpressure is high, and also at times burning or otherwiseinjuring the attendant.

The object of my invention is to provide an oil-ej ector wherein theseobject-ions or defects are avoided and the oil fed through a column ofwater maintained at a high temperature.

I accomplish the object of my invention by the means cr apparatusillustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is acentral sectional view of my improved oil-ejector attached to asteam-pipe of an engine'. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of theoil-ejector, on larger scale than shown in Fig.1,sl1owing the fittings,the glass tube, and oil-ejector.

A designates the oil-reservoir, which may be of any proper form to servethe purpose. In the cover of the reservoir is a iilling-oritice threadedto take the screw-plug l, and in the bottom is iitted a drain-pipe 2,provided with a turning plug to open and close the pipe. In thereservoir isa pipe 3, extending well down into the reservoir andprovided with a stop-valve 4E. On the end of the pipe 3 is attached thechamber 5, constituting the condenser for the steam which may beadmitted thereto. In the reservoir is a verticallyarranged pipe G,having its upper end approaching nearly to the top of the reservoir, andto the lower end is fitted a joint-pipe 7,

opening into the ejector pipe or chamber 8,l

in which are arranged the stop valve 9 and ejector-pipe l0,substantially as seen in the drawings.

B designates a steam-supply pipe leading' from the engine or steamsource. At a point in this steam-pipe is 'tted the end of a steamconduitpipe 1l, having mounted on its outer portion a valve-fitting i2,connected by a pipe 13 to the upper end of the condenser. The lower endof the valve-fitting 12 is connected to a pipe 14, which is 4in turnconnected to the joint-piece l5, having a pipe 16 with a valve-seatleading back into the steam-pipe B'. An arm a of the joint-piece l5 isfitted in the shell of the reservoir and serves to heat the Oil in thereservoir. In the lower end of the joint-piece l5 is properly joined theglass tube 17, in which the oilejector is located, substantially asshown. The arrangement of these pipes and fittings or joint-pieces withtheir valves constitutes a steam-circuit, by which the hot steam isbrought directly in scontact with the contents of the glass, and incombination with the other elements of the apparatus forms the gist ofmy invention.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: Supposing theattachments to be made, as speciiied, to the vertical steampipe of anengine and the reservoir as supplied with oil, the valves in the upperand lower branches l1 and 16 beingopen, a constant current of steam willpass into the pipe 14, and also pass through into the condenser, fromwhence it will be deposited into the reservoir and keep t-he oil thereinat a proper height. The effect of the current of steam through the pipeshaving direct connection with the steam-pipe also forces the steam intothe column of water in the glass, thus heating the parts. This waterbeing in contact with the steam is raised to a high tempera IOO ture anddelivers the oil heated to the action of the steam-current, which forcesit to the parts to'be lubricated. f

The advantages of this arrangement are, first, the action ofsteam-current through the tubes in connection with the steam-pipesrenders it impossible for the oil to congeal and clog up thedischarge-orifice of the pipe, since it makes the discharge of the oilcontinuous and blows it into atoms into the line of steam beforeentering into the engine; second, if it is necessary to feed the streamof oil into the engine, the water in the glass will not be displaced, asit would be without this steameurrent, which serves to keep the glassfull at all times by the deposition of water from partial condensationof the steam passing` through the pipe above the glass.

That I claim isl. In combination with a lubricator in which the oil isfed through a column of water, a steam-supply pipe, another steam-pipeinterposed between said stealnsupply pipe and the lubrieator proper,connecting-pipes between said first-mentioned pipe, ttings at the endsof said second steanrpipe, an ejector attached to the lower one of saidfittings and connected with the oil-reservoir, and suitable regulatingvalves, all substantially as described.

2. In combination with a condensation-displacement lubricator, asteam-pipe intermediate the stea1n-supply pipe and the lubricatorproper, connecting -pipes between said irst-mentioned pipe, and upperand lower fittings adapted to receive said connecting and intermediatepipes, the upper fitting also serving as a conduit for steam to thecondensing-chamber, and the lower tting also sei-2 ing as a support forthe oil-reservoir, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDIUS VERNIAUI). lVitnessos:

WILLIAM P. MEECH, JOHN TURNBULL.

